Rotary motor



(No Model.)

B. HEW$0N.

ROTARY MOTOR.

No. 487,221. Patented Nov. 29, 1892..

V and county of San NITZED STATES ROBERT HE\VSON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ROTARY MOTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 487,221, dated November 29, 1892.

Application filed April 30, 1891.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT HEwsoN, a ciiizen of the United States, residing in the city Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Rotary Motors; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descritpion of the same.

My invention relates to certain improvements in motors; and it consists of the peculiar constructions and combinations of devices which I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

Figure 1 is an exterior view of the motorcasing. Fig. 2 is a vertical section ina plane cutting the axis longitudinally. Fig. 3 is a rear view with part of casing broken away to show heater. Fig. 4: is asection of the motor rim, showing the arrangement of the buckets, also part of steam-chest and diagram with steam-inlet passage and valve. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a section of rim and buckets.

In the following description I have shown my motor with a double row of buckets and devices to render it reversible.

A is the exterior circular casing of my wheel, having a central diaphragm B, which divides itinto two chambers C and D. Within the chamber D is the rotary wheel mounted upon a shaft E, which extends through the center of the casing and is supported in suitable journal or bearing boxes F. This wheel consists of a rim having annular channels made concentrically around its periphery, and each of these channels has buckets G and G so set into it that when the vapor or other elastic fluid is directed against the buckets through suitable passages in the diaphragm B it will act directly upon these buckets, as shown in my former patent, No. 382,424, dated May 8, 1888. One set of the buckets is so arranged that when the elastic fluid is directed against them the wheel will be driven in one direction and the other set of buckets stands in the reverse position, so that by delivering the actuating medium against them the wheel will be driven in the opposite direction. It will be manifest that for certain purposes the Wheel will not need to be reversed, in which case but one set of buckets will be needed; but my invention is applicable to both single Serial No. 391,156. (No model.)

and double form. These buckets are caused to run closely against the diaphragm by means of an adjusting screw or step H, which serves as a thrust-bearing for the wheel-shaft upon the opposite side from that upon which the steam is delivered to the buckets, and by means of this adjustable screw-step II the shaft and wheel may be adjusted from time to time, so that the face of the wheel containing the buckets is caused to run so closely to the diaphragm that there is little or no leakage or escape, and consequently all of the actuating medium must pass through the buckets. The partitions I, which form the buckets, are drawn to a thin or feather edge where they stand nearest the diaphragm, so that there will be as little loss as possible at this point. These partitions extend preferably about half-way through the rim of the wheel at right angles with the face. Thence they are turned to stand at an angle,so that the portion I extends backward from its junction with the portion I to the point where the actuating medium is delivered and escapes through the opposite side of the wheel. i

The distance between the vertical partitions I I is about double the distance between the angular portions 1' of each adjacent bucket, so that the vapor oractuating medium which is delivered into the bucket is to a certain extent retarded in its escape by reason of the narrowing of the passage through which it passes to the rear face of the wheel. The angle at which these partitions I is set is such that the heel or rear edge of each of these angular partitions stands approximately in line with the vertical portion 1' of the next succeeding partition, as shown in Fig.3. By this construction it will be manifest that the first action of the vapor upon the buckets is one of direct pressure upon the partitions I and that in its escape through the inclined passages formed between the partitions I it produces a reactionary effect upon the wheel, and by reason of the narrowing of the discharge-passages there is a certain amount of pressure directly between the diaphragm and the buckets of the wheel which increases its effective force.

Within the chamber D, in which the wheel travels and into which the steam is exhausted after passing through the buckets of the wheel, I fit a coil of pipe J, and the feed-water designed for the boiler of the'engine is introduced to one end of this coil, passing around through it, and being delivered from the other end, whence it passes to the boiler. The heat applied to the coil by the exhauststeam raises the water to a high temperature before it enters the boiler and serves as a very effective heater.

In order to resist the pressure and thrust of the steam, which will be great upon a wheel of any considerable diameter, I have shown the arms or spokes which extend from the rim of the wheel to the hub as set in a bracing or dishing form, inclining backwardly from the rim toward the hub, as shown plainly in Fig. 2, and this prevents the rim from springing or being forced away from the stationary diaphragm when pressure is admitted to it, thus preventing leakage between the wheel and the diaphragm.

The chamber 0, into which steam or other elastic medium under pressure is admitted, is preferably an annular chamber having a depth radially equal to or slightly greater than the depth of the two concentric rows of buckets in the same direction and the steam or vapor under pressure being admitted to it through pipes K and K. This chamber or steam-chest has a circular partition which divides it into two independent annular chambers, one corresponding with the outer circle of buckets of the wheel and the other corresponding with the inner circle of buckets. One of the pipes K opens into the outer chamber of this steam-chest and the other pipe K into the inner chamber. These pipes unite with the main receiving-pipe L, and at their point of junction is fixed a three-way cock M with a handle or lever by which it may be readily turned, so as to admit the steam or vapor under pressure into either one of the pipes K or K and its corresponding steam-chest.

Through the central intermediate diaphragm B are made as many inclined passages N as may be desired, opening so as to deliver the actuating medium upon the buckets of the wheel, as before described. Each of these passages is controlled by a valve 0, having a screw-stem or other means by which it may be operated. These stems pass out through suitable stuffing-boxes to prevent a leakage at these points. When the wheel is running underlight work and not much pressure is needed, one or more of these valves maybe opened,so that steam or other medium is delivered to the buckets of the wheel at one or two points around its periphery, and as the work of the wheel increases more of these valves may be opened, so that the medium may be delivered upon the wheel at two, three, four, or more points, as may be desired, each jet acting upon the wheel at a different point, and adding its own force to the force of the other jets. This wheel differs from the one shownand described in my former patent beforementioned in that I am enabled to decrease the load on the wheel without causing a corresponding increase of speed. This 1s due to the fact that the normal speed of my present wheel is its maximum speed, and is regularly maintained. Therefore whileI may decrease the power of the wheel by closing one or more of the valves I do not also decrease its speed or momentum, and when the load on the wheel is suddenly decreased there is no increase of speed and no jumping up of the wheel because of the sudden change of load.

is done by turning the three-way cock so as to cut off steam from the outer steam-chest and corresponding row of buckets 1n the wheel and delivering it into the inner steamchest, from which it is delivered to the inner row of buckets, which, being set reversely to the outer ones, will reverse the movement of the wheel. The steam or other medium under pressure after passing through the wheel is delivered into the chamber D of the casing where there is a free space all around. the spokes and rim of the wheel to equalize any back-pressure which may occur at this polnt. This chamber has one or more openings and connecting-pipes through which the steam may be carried off and either led to a condenser or delivered directly through an exhaust-pipe in the manner usual for high-pressure engines.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by-Letters Patent, is-

In a rotary reactionary engine, a casing having a vertical diaphragm with a wheelchamber upon one side and independent annular steainchambers upon the other side, a wheel journaled in the first-named chamber and having a step for the outer end-of the shaft, and a screw adjustment thereof, whereby the opposite face of the wheel is regulated with relation to the face of the diaphragm, annular passages extending through the wheel from one side to the other, and a series of oppositely-inclined passages made through the diaphragms from each of the chambers corresponding with the passages in the rim, and valves whereby one or more of these passages may be opened to deliver steam to the wheel at difierent points in its circumference, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ROBERT I'IEWSON.

Witnesses:

S. H. NOURSE, J. A. BAYLESS.

WVhen it is desired to reverse the wheel, it 

